It has been nearly a month since Pope Leo XIV was elected head of the Catholic Church, and he has already been leaving an indelible mark on his 1.5 million followers around the world.
The first American pope in history, Leo XIV has sought to be a voice of peace, decrying suffering in Gaza and Ukraine, continuing the ministry of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who died on April 21, a day after Easter Sunday.
Born Robert Prevost in Chicago, Leo XIV spent much of his ordained life in Peru before being appointed as head of the Dicastery for Bishops and cardinalate in 2023.
He chose the name ‘Leo’ at least in part because of Pope Leo XIII questions about the social aspect of the first great industrial revolution of the late 19th century.
“Sensing myself called to continue in this same path, I chose to take the name Leo XIV,” he said in one of his first papal addresses. “There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution.”
Along with his many accomplishments in only a short span of time, the 69-year-old Leo has already been vocal on one trending and controversial topic in particular: artificial intelligence (AI).
In 2025, one of the markers of another growth in technology is AI, Leo explained.
“In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor,” he said.
David Gibson, director of the Center of Religion and Culture at Fordham University, said it is too early to figure out what kind of pope Leo will be, but he sees the pontiff taking a stance on social justice worker justice.
“I think picking the name ‘Leo’ after Pope Leo XIII, he is very much signaling that economic and social justice issues will be a hallmark of his papacy,” Gibson explained.
But another resounding theme of his tenure so far is peace. A glance at Leo’s Pontifex X (formerly Twitter) page, tells a reader that there is no room for the many ongoing wars facing the world right now.
“The people of Ukraine have been struck by fresh, serious attacks. I assure my prayers for all the victims, especially children and their families,” he wrote on May 28. “I strongly reiterate my appeal to end the war and to support every initiative for dialogue and peace.”
He has also described the war in Gaza as “increasingly worrying and painful,” according to an article in the National Catholic Reporter.
“As a pastor and a world leader, peace in the world, ending wars, doing whatever the Church can do to bring an end to wars, in for example Gaza, the Holy Land, Ukraine, and in other places. Peacemaking has been a real signature theme that he has stressed.”
While a pope does not start a papacy with platforms and promises like a politician does a term in office, Pope Leo is giving New York Catholics reasons to smile.
Trish Gathers, president and CEO of the Carmelite System and Carith Ministries, which runs a nursing home facility in Queens, called the election of the new pope a “pivotal moment” for the Church.
“Under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV, we are excited and committed to continue to actualize our mission in a way that resonates with the needs of today’s society,” she said. “Carith Ministries stands ready to collaborate with congregations and community leaders, working hand in hand to ensure that every individual experiences the inherent dignity they deserve.”
She added that she is looking forward to her organization continuing the legacy of Pope Francis and fostering inclusivity.
“Together, we will nurture the seeds of hope planted by Pope Francis, cultivating a vibrant and inclusive ministry that reaches all, while always giving preference to raising the voice of the marginalized and disenfranchised,” she said.
Other New Yorkers, too, are looking forward to Leo’s papacy.
“I do like him so far,” Jen Puglia of Staten Island, whose late brother was a Catholic priest, said. “I feel he may bring a new feel to the Church.”
Lisa Marie Anello, a Catholic from New York who now lives in New Jersey, said she is excited to see an American at the head of the Church.
“I’m not sure what to say other than it’s amazing to see a pope from the United States,” she said.
Harold, a parisioner at St. Sebastian’s in Queens, said he likes what he sees in Leo.
“He seems like a personable guy,” he said. “I think he understands the average person based on interviews I have seen.”
